Falcons Still Looking To Get The Most Out Of Kyle Pitts
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was selected fourth overall in 2021 and had 1,026 receiving yards in his first year in the NFL, but since then, he's been an enigma and has left fantasy managers and the Falcons wanting more. He finished last year as the team's fifth-leading receiver with 47 catches for 602 yards and four touchdowns, and since entering the league, Pitts is fifth among all TEs in receiving yards (2,651) and 23rd in touchdowns (10). "He's shown some spurts of greatness, and he's shown some things that (make you) desire more. We'll try to get the best out of him at all times. That's our job as coaches," head coach Raheem Morris said. The 24-year-old will be making $10.87 million on his fifth-year option in 2025, and all signs point to this being his final year in Atlanta unless he can improve his production. In fantasy, he'll come cheap as a low-end TE1/high-end TE2 after yet another disappointing season.
Kyle Pitts With Underwhelming End To Another Disappointing Season
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts caught two passes for 15 yards and no scores in Sunday's 44-38 overtime loss to the Panthers. Even though Darnell Mooney (shoulder) missed the contest and Michael Penix Jr. tallied 38 pass attempts, Pitts would garner only three targets in the game. It puts an end to another disappointing season for the former first-round draft pick who put up over 1,000 yards receiving in his rookie season back in 2021, but no more than 667 in any season since then including this year's total of 602. The 24-year-old managed four scores on the year, but finishes as a mid-range TE2 for fantasy. Perhaps next season he and Penix Jr. can develop some chemistry, but it seems we've seen the peak already for the 6-foot-6 tight end.
Kyle Pitts A Volatile TE2 In Good Matchup Versus Panthers
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts caught four of five passes from Michael Penix Jr. last week, going for 44 yards and a TD, however, the week before he caught a single pass from the lefty QB. So, there still isn't consistent involvement with his new QB yet, and it would be hard to trust him in the final week of the season as the 6-foot-6 pass catcher has produced five games of one catch or fewer in the last eight, while his TD last week was his first since Week 8. The 24-year-old does draw a favorable matchup, though, as the Falcons take on the Panthers in a must-win game to finish off the regular season. The Panthers have allowed the second-most fantasy production to TEs this season, and Pitts hauled in three catches for 70 yards earlier this season against them. Additionally, Darnell Mooney (shoulder) was a DNP on Friday and looks to be very questionable. If Mooney doesn't go, that should free up some targets for the other receivers. It won't feel comfortable doing it, but if there was a week to use Pitts, this could be it. The former first-round draft pick should be viewed as a high-end TE2 this week.
Kyle Pitts Catches Four Passes, One TD In Week 17 Loss
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts caught his first touchdown pass since Week 8 in Sunday night's 30-24 overtime loss to the Commanders, hauling in four of five targets for 44 yards and the score. It has been yet another disappointing season for the former first-round draft pick, but perhaps this can be the beginning of some rapport with his rookie quarterback that, if he can muster another decent outing next week, could build some momentum heading into next season. It's probably a long shot, though, but the 24-year-old does draw a favorable matchup next week against the Panthers in a must-win game for the Falcons. Carolina is one of the worst teams in allowing production to tight ends, although they allow production to all positions, so the Falcons should have multiple paths to victory.
Kyle Pitts Not A Startable Fantasy Option In Week 17
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts caught a single pass last week, the fifth time in the last seven games in which he's caught just one pass or fewer. Bijan Robinson, whose involvement in the passing attack has diminished recently, has 27 targets over the last seven games compared to Pitts' 24. As the fifth option in an offense that has a quarterback making only his second career start in Michael Penix Jr., Pitts makes for quite the gamble in Week 17 against a Commanders defense that has been fairly good at limiting production to TEs, not having allowed any single tight end to surpass more than 66 receiving yards on the year. The former first-round draft pick has theoretical upside, but hits his floor more often than not, so should not be trusted at this critical time of the fantasy season. The 6-foot-6 pass catcher is a low-end TE2 for Sunday's matchup in Washington, D.C.
Kyle Pitts With A Single Catch In Week 16 Blowout Win
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts caught one of two targets for seven yards in Sunday's 34-7 blowout win over the Giants. A week after catching four passes, Pitts faded into the background once again, now with one catch or less in five of the last seven games. Michael Penix Jr. targeted eight different receivers in this one, but the bulk of it was focused on the three main pass catchers Drake London, Darnell Mooney, and Ray-Ray McCloud III. If you were a Pitts manager and survived this performance, congratulations. Next Sunday brings a matchup versus Washington who has been good against tight ends this season, so the 24-year-old will be a roll of the dice again for any manager interested in deploying him.
Kyle Pitts A Low-Floor, Limited-Upside Option In Week 16
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts reemerged from obscurity in Week 15 to haul in four passes, albeit for a measly 28 yards. The 24-year-old totaled three receptions over the previous three contests, has 14 fewer catches than running back Bijan Robinson on the season, and hasn't scored since Week 8. The former first-round draft pick has fallen well outside the top 12 TEs in fantasy scoring on the year and takes on a Giants pass defense that has been good at covering tight ends this season, yielding the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing TEs thus far. Add in another variable -- a left-handed rookie quarterback -- and Pitts makes for quite the fantasy gamble in Week 16. The 6-foot-6 pass catcher projects as a mid-range TE2 option for Sunday's matchup and not a great option for managers who are still eying fantasy championships.
Kyle Pitts Reappears For Four Catches, Mediocre Yardage In Monday's Win
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts recorded his first multi-catch performance since Week 10 on Monday night, catching all four of his targets for a modest 28 yards in the 15-9 win over the Raiders. On a night when Kirk Cousins completed just 11 passes, Pitts' four targets and four catches were both a team-high. It was good to see the 24-year-old involved again, although the Raiders had been poor against TEs this year and Cousins wasn't looking downfield much in this one so it's not all that surprising to see him resurface. Between Pitts disappearing from the passing attack most weeks and Cousins looking dysfunctional at quarterback over the last several games, fantasy managers vying for playoff championships will want to look elsewhere next Sunday. The Falcons take on the Giants who have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to TEs on the season, and the former first-round pick figures to be a low-end TE2 in that matchup.
Kyle Pitts A Fantasy Gamble Even In Favorable MNF Matchup
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts continued his stretch fantasy futility last week, catching just a single ball from Kirk Cousins, which was the fourth time in the last five contests that the 24-year-old has caught one pass or fewer. The former first-round draft pick has fallen to a distant fifth option in the passing game, well below Ray-Ray McCloud III who earns nearly 17% of the team's targets compared to Pitts' 14%, with running back Bijan Robinson garnering 23 looks over the last five weeks compared to Pitts' 18. The Falcons play the Raiders this week, a defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to TEs on the season, so if there was any week to use him in the final weeks, this would probably be it. With the road to fantasy championships hanging in the balance, however, Pitts can't be trusted as a fantasy starter. The fourth-year pro is nothing more than a low-end TE2 for Monday Night Football, although the favorable matchup does give him some slight upside.
Kyle Pitts A Non-Factor Again With One Catch In Week 14
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts was a non-factor in the passing game yet again in Sunday's 42-21 loss to the Vikings. The 24-year-old recorded six targets but caught just one pass for 14 yards, which was the fourth time in the last five games that he caught just one or fewer passes. Even if he has a good game or two left in him this season, there's no telling when that will happen, as the former first-round draft pick has fallen to the fifth option in the passing attack. At this point in the season when fantasy managers can't risk taking zeros in their lineups, it'll be hard to trust Pitts as even a TE2 in Week 15 against the Raiders, a team that is one of the most generous in allowing fantasy points to TEs.
Kyle Pitts
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Falcons
